White-Rhinos launch Yorkshire man manual

The latest MHF malehealth mini-manual has been launched in Yorkshire.

Put together with the Department of Health Yorkshire and Humber, the NHS and Leeds Rugby, Yorkshire Man: A practical step-by-step guide is laid out in a clear, easy-to-read style and targeted directly at men in the area.

MHF chair and Professor of Men's Health at Leeds Met University Alan White was joined by Leeds Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield to give away copies of the manual and speak to to men about their health issues outside the new Leeds Rhinos shop in the St Johns Centre, Leeds.

The guide forms part of the Tackling Men's Health partnership between Leeds Met and Leeds Rhinos, which delivers health promotion messages and screening for fans at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on match days.

Alan White said: 'Having a Yorkshire identity is very important for many men living in this region. Having this book focused not only on our health needs but also providing details of services that are available locally makes it relevant to us all. There is very little health information that has been specially focused at men, which leaves many of us unaware of what is and is not important when it comes to our wellbeing. We hope that the Yorkshire Man mini-manual will fill the gap'.

New concept

MHF president Dr Ian Banks, who writes the mini-manuals said 'the latest in the mini-manuals series has taken the concept to a new level. Others in the series, such as Living Healthily and Prostate Cancer, have been really popular with men. I am sure that Yorkshire Man will be even more successful.'

Jane Riley, Associate Director of Public Health for the Yorkshire and Humber region, added: 'The Yorkshire Man guide has been written for men of all ages right across the region. We know that Yorkshire men are proud of their region and their reputation for working hard, doing well and having fun: whether it's at work, with their families or on the sports field.

'The guide aims to give them the sort of information they want, in the way they want it. It has been written with the input of men from the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and we hope that all men across the region will find something in it that will help them improve their own health, reduce their stress levels and get the most out of their lives.'

The guide links to further sources of information including the NHS and a range of high quality websites and guidance, including the website, Yorkshire malehealth, provided by the MHF. It has been awarded the Crystal Mark by the Plain English Campaign.